More Conversations with Ada

First though, before I get to the conversations with Ada, here is a picture of the homemade strawberry banana muffins that I made this morning.  I had a couple of friends coming over to talk couponing while our children played, and I wanted to have a snack in case anyone was hungry.  I had a few very ripe bananas, so I found a recipe for banana muffins in a betty crocker cookbook.  I decided to cut up some fresh strawberries in hopes that John would love the muffins and would get in a serving or two of fruit for the day.

I loved the muffins, the other kids loved the muffins--Ada, Hannah, and Grant, in fact they ate two each, but John wouldn't even take one bite.  Not even one bite.  What in the world?  I almost used whole wheat flour, but I didn't since I was serving these to friends, and I wanted to make sure they tasted good and not too "wheat-like."  So, they were white flour, strawberry-banana muffins.  What's not to like?

He is a stinker to the core!!!!

Anyway...here is a picture to accompany Ada conversations.  This was her other pose from the other day.

(I know that my pictures are so bad.  They are all from my phone.  I am praying that a really nice camera will just drop out of the sky...I'll let you know if God answers that one.)

Scott pointed out on his blog that I never blog about Ada conversations anymore, so I am bringing them back.

 Okay, first conversation.  We were in the car today running some errands...

Ada:  "I wish we could paint our car pink."

Me:  "That is a fun idea..."

Ada:  "We could paint it pink and decorate it with carrots."

Me:  "With carrots?!"

Ada:  "Yeah, and then we could drive our pink, carrot car."

Me:  "That would be fun..."

Ada:  "Can we paint it pink today?"

She was 100% serious, and at that point, I had to break it to her that we were never going to be able to paint the car pink or decorate it with carrots(?!!!).

Conversation two...

Ada:  "I want to go see a dragon.  A shooting dragon."

Me:  "A shooting dragon?"

Ada:  "Like this," and she made a hissing noise.

Me:  "It shoots fire?" (a fire-breathing dragon, perhaps?)

Ada:  "Yes, and it's pink."

Me:  "Where do we go to see this?"

Ada, with absolute conviction: "At the zoo."

The other night, while the family was out running errands...

Ada:  "Mom, when is your stomach going to get big again?  I want a baby sister."  (As if I just randomly wake up one day with a big stomach, and that's how God gives us babies)

Me:  "You want me to have another baby?"

Ada:  "Yes, five baby girls."

Me:  "Wow, you want me to have lots of babies."

Ada:  "Yeah, I want you to go to the hospital.  I like the hospital because I like the elevators there." 

Obviously hospital elevators are a great reason to have five!!!! more babies.

Ada, looking at some of my stemware in my kitchen hutch.

Ada:  "are these new?"

Me:  "no"

Ada:  "are they special?"

Me:  "they are special."

Ada:  "who handed them to you?"

Me:  "they were a wedding gift."

Ada:  loud gasp..."for your birthday?!!"

Me:  "No, for getting married.  People give you gifts when you are getting married."

Ada:  thinking for a minute..."like rings?"

She's my funny, funny girl.  Really.  She makes me laugh everyday. 

One more thing...

Ada was just running around upstairs in nothing but her pants--so no shirt on.  I told her to come to me and let me put her shirt on her, and she responded,

"I'm not Ada, I'm Jillian [as in the Biggest Loser/Thirty Day Shred]"

so I said, "Well, come here, Jillian, I need to put your shirt on you."

Ada said, "Jillian doesn't wear clothes"  (which is basically true in our exercise video.  She wears a sports bra and shorts)

I said, "Well, Jillian, in our house you do wear clothes!!"

How to grow a garden according to Ada and why Ada doesn't want to see Sleeping Beauty

Ada is very interested in garden growing lately, and she can't ever understand why I won't just take her outside and plant the garden, right then, as soon as she thinks of it.  I keep telling her that I will look into it, and this spring (is Spring capitalized?  This English teacher is terrible with captilization--and with the correct spelling of capital) we will try to plant a garden (or plant something, like maybe one vegetable--we'll start small). 

So today at lunch, we were eating blueberries, and Ada began to asking me about a spot on the blueberries, and I was explaining that it was just there from the blueberry being picked off the bush.  So, that led to more questions, and the conversation led to Ada asking if we could go outside to plant a garden after lunch.  I once again told her that I would have to look into it, and that we would try to plant a garden in the Spring, and this is what she said.

Ada:  "But mom, I know how to plant a garden,"

Me:  "You do?  How?"

Ada:  "make a hole...water it...plant...water again...then, watch it grow.  That's how you do it, mom."

So, there you go.  Fairly simple, it seems;) 

Okay, second Ada conversation. 

Yesterday, we got a postcard in the mail about the Atlanta Ballet Company's production of Sleeping Beauty.  Well, Ada's favorite princess is Sleeping Beauty (no rhyme or reason to that; she doesn't even know the story of Sleeping Beauty), and she loved watching the Christmas ballet show, so I thought that it would be really special for Ada to be able to go with me to the Fox to watch Sleeping Beauty.  I immediately called Scott to tell him about it, and he agreed that it was a good idea and that we should look into the price of tickets.  Ada overheard my conversation with Scott, and she wanted to see the postcard.  Here is what it looks like...

I don't know if  you can tell, but the male ballet dancer has no shirt on, and ummm...very form fitting pants.  Ada took one look at it, and announced that she did not want to go see Sleeping Beauty.  When I asked her why, she said because the man doesn't have any clothes on.  No matter what I said, she was not budging in her decision.

Scott said, "that's my girl."



Cold Day Spent Inside

It was freezing cold outside today, so we opted to stay inside by the warm fire. 

Please excuse my stocking that is turned the wrong way, and, again, all pictures are from the phone, so the quality is not so good.

Lately, I don't mind a day spent at home.  I used to become incredibly restless if we had no plans for the day, but not anymore.  Especially when the wind is making it feel 7 degrees outside.  No, thank you!!  In fact, I just left John in his footie pajamas so that he would be warm and toasty all day long.

This is little Ada below, asleep by the fire, her "my little pony" tucked in beside her.

Ada/Mommy explained that doll Ada gets to sleep in mommy's bed.  I think this was a hint on Ada's part because these days she is loving the chance to sleep in my bed with me.  She climbs in every morning, and in my sleepy state, I don't protest, as long as she will just let me go back to sleep for an hour or two!!

This is Ada and "mommy" (and you will be quickly corrected if you accidentally call "mommy," Ada!).  Ada is at the doctor, and apparently mommy fills the role of both doctor and mom.

 This is John playing with what is supposed to be his Christmas present.  Apparently Ada found the gift (a hand-me-down) and pulled it out for him to play with without me knowing it.  He loved it, so that's good to know.

 And this is John, setting the record straight.  "I am able to eat things other than milk!!  I hear mom is giving me a bad rap--something about texture therapy?"  It's true, John has started eating like a champ.  Scott and I joke that John must have heard us say texture therapy, and he thought, "fine, if you're going to make me go to therapy, I'll just eat."

Okay, I have a few Ada things to say, a few conversations to record.

First, as she was playing "mommy and Ada" as she calls it

Ada:  "Oh my gosh"

Me:  Ada, I really don't want you to say gosh. 

Ada:  But, I'm the mommy. 

touche', Ada, touche.'

And next conversation

we were in the car riding, and Ada was in the back seat drawing.

Ada:  Mom, this is a picture of Jesus walking to the cross.

Me: I love it, Ada!

Ada:  and this is God.

Me:  What is God doing?

Ada:  Obeying our sins on the cross.

I think the information got a little jumbled in her brain.

And now she is still playing "Ada/mommy", and she was just quickly rushing around the room.  I said, "Ada, what are you doing?"  and her answer, "Cleaning up for Ellie and Luke."

Another Christmas Conversation with Ada

While she was in the kitchen with me, as I prepared lunch.

Ada (jumping around excitedly):  "Santa is coming to our house!!"

Me:  "Really?!!! Is Santa real or pretend?"

Ada:  "Real!!!" (obviously)

Me:  "Really?!!!  How does he get to our house?"

Ada:  "Well, he comes on Christmas and brings presents."

Me:  "Will you see him?"

Ada:  "No, I will be in my room, and he will say 'ha, ha, ha [rather than ho,ho,ho?], Merry Christmas, Ada" (she breaks into loud laughter, bending over and holding her stomach...)

Hmmm....

We don't actually plan to "do Santa" (I know, party poopers we are), but apparently Caillou (her current favorite cartoon) has already poured much Santa knowledge into Ada's brain.

Another conversation with Ada--distracting myself

John is upstairs in his bed "crying-it-out."  The poor guy must be so conflicted.  Sometimes he has to cry it out, sometimes he just gets to eat.  I am having one of those, he's NINE months old, he needs to sleep all night days, so for now he is crying it out.  (Don't feel sorry for him.  He ate less than two hours ago.  He just wants to snuggle, which I understand, but he also needs to learn to sleep). 

So, to distract myself, I am going to share an Ada conversation. 

These days a lot of our conversations revolve around Christmas because Christmas decorations are going up all over town, and every time Ada sees a new one, she exclaims, "Christmas is coming up!!"

So, after driving through the town square the other day, Ada says from the backseat of the car,

"Mom, do you know what Christmas means?"

Well, I immediately imagined all the clever things she might say--all about Jesus' birthday, and I was thrilled to hear her little heart, so I said,

"What, Ada?  What does it mean?"

Ada's response-- "It's a holiday where you go to school and get something.  Like a treat or a cookie or something."

Wow...not what I had in mind.  I assume that she saw a Christmas episode of one of her favorite cartoons.  Caillou, perhaps?

I then proceeded to share with her what I think Christmas means, including Jesus' birth.  At that point Ada began to ask questions like, did Mary go to a hospital, etc. etc.  When I explained that no, Jesus was born in a barn, and he didn't have a bed, Ada said, "Oh yeah, Mary put him in a nest!!"  Can't you just see a drawing of Jesus' manger--it does look like a nest, right?

Anyway, John has now stopped crying.  Why, you ask.  Because I fed him.  I'm absolutely wrapped around his little finger.

Conversations with Ada

This morning, after spending a few minutes at the end of the day yesterday "training" Ada to pick up her toys at the end of each day--something I am also "in training" for;)

Ada:  "Mom, are we going to see Near today?"

Me:  "No, we'll see her in a week."

Ada:  "Then who are we cleaning up for?"

That is a dagger to the heart.  Really, I do clean my house from time to time, despite my daughter's observations.

Conversations with Ada

Setting--we are in the car running errands around town, and Ada sees some Halloween decorations that are still out.

Ada:  "Mom, is it still Hallowing?"[that's what she calls Halloween--Hallowing]

Me:  "No, the next Holiday is Thanksgiving.  Do you know what Thanksgiving is?"

Ada:  [in a very excited voice] "Yes!!  It's when I get toys for Christmas!!"

Me:  "No, Thanksgiving is when we spend time thanking God for all the things he has given us.  For example, I am thankful for you, and John, and daddy.  Can you think of anything that you are thankful for?" [I realize that this isn't a full explanation of what Thanksgiving is, but I was winging it, big time.]

Ada:  [silent and looking around]...ummm, doors?

Me:  "okay, I am thankful for doors too.  They keep us safe and warm inside our houses and cars.  And Ada, do you remember whose birthday we celebrate at Christmas?"

Ada:  [silent again] "...ummm...mommy's?"

Me:  "No, it's Jesus's birthday!!!" [enthusiastic, excited voice]

Ada:  [again, an excited voice] "do we get to go see him?!!!" [I am fairly certain she was thinking of a birthday party at this point]

Me:  "No, remember how we talked about that we can't see Him, but He is here?"

Ada:  "yes, he is here and here and here and here," [pointing to lots of different places], "right, mommy?"

Me:  "That's right, Ada..."

and at that point we pulled into our driveway and the conversation stopped.

It's looking like all of last Christmas's effort to focus on Jesus as the reason for Christmas rather than gifts, didn't really stick ;)  We'll just have to give it another shot this year.

Longing

In my new found space out in the early morning air, I have found much needed time to pray as my feet hit the pavement over and over again.  It's been refreshing, to say the least.

The thing that I pray the most, that I ask for over and over is that we--Scott, me, Ada, John, any others that he might bless us with--that we would love Him most.  That we would love Him and His word and that the loving would direct all of our steps.  That our whole lives, every minute, would be surrendered to Him, to His will, not ours.

She is only two (three, really), and I pray that she already would long to know Him more and more and more. 

Lately she says a lot, "I want Jesus to come to my house.  I want him to play with my kitchen and in my pool, and I want to ride on his shoulders."  I didn't know how to explain that though we can't see him, He is here, so I called my mom.  Mom got on the phone with Ada and explained that when she is much older (Lord willing, she has many, many years left here), older even than Near and Mae-Mae (mom's words, not mine.  I don't think they are old!!) that she will go to Heaven and she will see Jesus with her eyes, face-to-face, but until then He is here and we can talk to Him the same as if we could see Him.  Well, she listened hard to those words, and then it was settled.  She now will say, "Hey, Jesus," to the air and smile really big, and I say, "yes, He is here."  But today, that wasn't enough, I suppose.

We were riding in the car, on the way home from the pool, all quiet and tired, and all of a sudden she says, "mommy, I am older now, can I go to Heaven today?  I want to see Jesus today.  Please say yes, mommy."  I said, "no, baby, not today, as far as I know, today is not the day, but remember you can talk to Him anyway, even though you can't see Him" and she said, "but please say yes, mommy, I am older now."  I once again explained, that we hope she will be much, much older before she sees Jesus.  Oh I selfishly hope that she has many years to go, but I also hope that she never stops longing for Him and for her true home. 

I pray it again, "Please Lord, give her a heart to know and love you and your word.  Let her always long for more of you!!!"

Big Sister

Milla asked how Ada was responding to John's grumpiness.

I think this conversation best sums it up.

Ada, "I want mom to go back to the hospital.

Scott, "why?"

Ada, "I want them to put John back in mommy's tummy.  I don't want to be a big sister anymore."

So, really, she's doing great with it all ;)

More Conversations with Ada

I think this is going to be a reoccuring thing on my blog, "conversations with Ada."  There are just so many things I want to record!!

The chosen topic of late is, "when I grow up," and the conversations go as follows.

"When I grow up, I am going to be like Barney.  John, you can be like Baby Bop.  Mommy, do you want to be like Barney like me?"

"When I grow up, I am going to be a red sucker."

"When I grow up, I am going to be a baby in your tummy."

"When I grow up, I am going to be like Jesus," --Ada.   "That's great, Ada, Jesus will help you to be like Jesus," --mom.  "No, I am going to be like Jesus in the book.  It's going to be dark in there," --Ada.

Can you imagine what it's like to truly believe that when you grow up you can choose to be anything--food, characters in a book, cartoon characters?  The possibilities are endless.

More Conversations with Ada

Me:  "Ada, did you know that I used to be a teacher?"

Ada:  "A teacher?"

Me:  "Yes, I used to get up and go to work every morning just like Daddy does.  I taught about good books."

Ada:  "You used to be a man?"

so, now I am trying to explain that women work too, not just men ;)

And this morning in the car we passed a fire truck with the sirens blaring.

Ada:  "look mommy, a firetruck!!  Where is it going?"

Me:  "probably to help someone."

Ada:  "a man or a mommy?"

Me:  "what do you think?"

Ada:  "a mommy"

Me:  "maybe so"

Ada:  "will they check her belly button or her ears?"

hmmm...good question, Ada. 

Okay, have to come back and add this one

Ada:  "Mama, are you going to be an Ada some time?"

Me:  "What do you mean?"

Ada:  "When I'm a mom, will you be an Ada?"

Me:  "No, when you're a mom, I'll be a 'Near' "

Ada:  "Oh..."

Addition to the Ada post

Okay, there are two stories that I have to add to the Ada post below.

1.  Ada has a pink bath towel with Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and the Little Mermaid on it--a Christmas gift from my mom.  Well, the other night when she was getting out of the bath tub, I had just a plain white towel waiting on her.  Her response to this, "I want the sleeping Tutti towel, mommy."  Oh I laughed so hard.  I certainly didn't correct her, so now, in our house, Sleeping Beauty is known as sleeping Tutti.  Tutti, you're a famous Disney Princess.

2.  This story happened this morning.  We were in the car--the whole family--and Scott had to slam on his breaks when the car in front of him stopped.  Ada said, "daddy, don't hit the red car, right?"  And we said, "right," and she said, "if we hit the car, it would break, right?  And it would fall down.  That would be silly." and she broke into loud laughter as if it was the funniest thought ever.  So true, Ada, so true.  I would hate for the car to fall down.

p.s.  Luke always says something followed by the question, "right?"  for confirmation.  Well, Ada has picked up this habit, so she always ends her sentences with "right?"  and we have to confirm that she is right.

More prayer time with Ada

I have tried to teach Ada that in order to do anything good, you know like be sweet, obey, pick up toys--those toddler type things--she can ask Jesus to help her.  I want her to understand to the best of her ability that it is Christ in us that enables us to obey His word.

So...most nights when we pray, I always have her repeat after me, and we usually pray, "help me to obey mommy and daddy." 

Tonight, she was praying on her own, not repeating after me, and she said the usual, "thank you for mommy, daddy, and John," and then she listed everything else in her room including the box of wipes on her chest of drawers, and then... "help me to be obedient." 

Oh my word, Scott and I immediately locked eyes, and he whispered, "what did she say?"  and I know, of course, that she is simply remembering what we have prayed all those nights before, but at the end of a very long day, it sure does help to hear my two year old pray for obedience.  Oh man.  Now if God will just answer that prayer ;)